Obs. Forms: 3–5 brek, 4–5 brekke, 5 breke, 5–6 brecke, 3–7 breck. [A parallel form of BREAK sb.1, or a direct derivation of brec- stem of BREAK v.] 1. A breach, blemish, failing.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 6344. He drou þam vp at first, Wit-vten ani brek or brist.
c. 1369. Chaucer, Dethe of Blaunche, 940. Swiche a fairenesse of a nekke … that boon nor brekke Nas ther non seen that mys satte.
1413. Lydg., Pylgr. Sowle, I. xv. (1859), 13. I that am in this brecke perylous.
1573. Tusser, Husb. (1878), 40. Saint Michel doth bid thee amend the marsh wal, the brecke and the crab hole.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., I. xiii. 41. No breck was ever found in her veil, so spotlesse was her conversation. Ibid. (1662), Worthies, III. 38. Monuments … remaining without breck or blemish to this day.
2. = BREAK sb.1 12.
1787. Marshall, Rur. Econ. E. Norfolk, Breck … a large new-made inclosure.
1863. Morton, Cycl. Agric., II. Breck (Norf., Suff.), a large field. In Northumb., etc., a portion of a field cultivated by itself.
